Every night brought dreams, but none as strange as this.

"Zel…"

The ballroom was unlit. Cloth covers were draped on furniture and unused candelabras. A ghost of a room's intentions. I was in a large gown that swept the floor with every movement. My partner led us through a dance that I couldn't pinpoint, but my feet knew it quite well. His left hand was in my right and the other was securely around my waist.

"…da."

Each time I tried to discern who this mysterious man was, I would lose focus. There were a few general details that I could make out. He was tall and solid. The suit he wore felt expensive under my fingers. Attractive, was a word that rung in my thoughts. Most noticeable, were his eyes. A brown so light I could make out yellow and orange specks.

"Here we are," he said through a smile I couldn't make out, "again."

I wanted to ask the obvious: Who are you?

But a voice in my head told me I wasn't leading this dance. Without my conscious effort, my lips formed a small plastic smile.

"Zel… da."

It wasn't him saying that. Something else rang through the room, which was quickly disregarded in our dance to silent music.

"Someday," the word hung on his lips. "Someday the ground will give way."

His voice was smooth, the type of low that one could feel in their chest. It hummed and stuck to me like glue. The dance turned us into a circle and his hand sunk to my lower back, bending me into a dip. With a bittersweet grin, he leaned in to grace my ear.

"And I will break you."

"Zelda!"

I startled awake, feeling hands on my shoulders. My heart thrummed in my chest. Red eyes were widely staring down at me as I came to. When Impa saw I was awake, she leaned back and held out an item at my bedside.

Confusion deftly swept over me.

The first words that my tongue decided to stumble over were, "What is it?"

I spoke like I was out of breath and I certainty didn't feel rested.

"Get up. We have to get a move on," Impa plainly said, emphasizing the article that she was holding. Her speech barely reached me. I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and recognized it as my white night robe.

Slowly, I unfurled from the blankets and heard a sniffling.

"Anju?" I found myself saying, a croak was in my voice. She was at the base of my bed holding a cloth under her nose. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head and looked away, quietly crying.

My brain seemed to have a moment of clarity and fear gripped me.

"Come on," Impa softly motivated. "Hurry."

I ambled out of bed. She shrugged the thick robe on despite my shaking hands.

"Is it my uncle? Is he-"

"No," she turned me and tugged the fabric over my night dress with a certain force before tying it.

My slippers awaited my feet and I caught myself from tripping as I followed Impa out of the room. She moved swiftly, every now and again looking back. Anju tailed the both of us.

I didn't like walking these halls at night. Portraits of people long dead filled the space and all I felt was their silent gaze. Now, actual people lined the hallway. Servants, knights, and sometimes a person of prestige watched us pass by.

It was odd. Odd enough that I was gracing their presence in only my night clothes – something that was entirely out of propriety. However, that wasn't it. Their expressions, their whispers, it was as if everyone knew what was happening except me.

Well, I had an inking.

We took the stairs and turns that were all too familiar; they were towards Father's bedchamber.

My throat grew dry.

Impa's feet stopped in front of his door. Between us were two armored guards staring ahead diligently. My steps paused behind her. We shared a glance. A look so miniscule yet was proof enough to lean my worries on. She moved aside to allow me to enter first.

I hardened my heart.

The door creaked. It always had done that, even when Mother was among us. The sound drew out until I could make out the candlelight from within. Within the King's parlor was a large table that had been dragged in front of the fireplace that entertained my Father and I during suppertime. Men stood around it with hushed comments till one looked up, and then the rest fell to a silence.

They all looked towards the door – towards me.

It was when I could faintly make out the spindly white hair of Whitehurst and the bushy grayness of Fierlin's beard. All the admirals, or at least most of them, stood in front of me. They were either in their night shirts or the clothes they wore the day before. Though, every one of them looked animated.

As the silence overtook them, they moved aside and I saw Father at the only seat there.

I moved across the room with the only sound being my grazing slippers. An antique grandfather clock ticked on near Father's bedroom door. It was hardly three in the morning.

Once I reached the table, I was offered a chair and was about to refuse until Father spoke.

"Gentlemen."

He said it in a tone I hadn't heard in a while.

Without conversation, they left through the door I came from. I turned to my father, finally letting my slight dubiety show.

"What is happening?" I said, in an almost whisper and took the seat before him. Documents littered the table and a rolled-out map that I notice was usually pinned to his bedroom wall as decoration. Pen marks were scribbled onto it.

He shut his eyes and breathed in, "The opposition has attacked a small gathering of Zora reinforcements."

"Zora?" I looked at him in admonishment. "Zora… they are neutral. I- reinforcements for us?"

Father placed his hands on the table, "I have been attempting to pull some old favors from King Dorephan."

I thought back to his letters. None of them had anything to do with garnering Zora support. It must have been something he did independently.

"That's," a smile born of bewilderment grew on my face, "That's brilliant, Father. They haven't been in active participant in Hyrulean conflicts in – why, in a century."

"I did get the idea from another," he said with a glint in his eye, it made my smile broaden. "But now that battalion has been attacked and the casualties are heavy."

That tiredness of his settled back onto his features.

My eyes scanned the table and I spoke my thoughts out slowly, "I believe it would imply that if the rebels are willing to attack an ally, then I wonder what is stopping them from attacking Hylian forces that are far closer."

I traced the pen markings from the desert with my finger. It was deep into the countryside, the Zora had a ways to go to converge with our troops who had just made it to Gerudo Town. I suspected that they were meant to be support by the border as Zora weren't as proficient in the sweltering temperatures. My small smile overturned. The Zora hadn't fought in decades. Unlike us, they were far out of combat practice; trained properly, yes, but even if their lifespans were thrice ours only their elders would be battle hardened.

It meant that young Zora soldiers were entirely unprepared for an enemy they had never seen.

"Zelda," Father suddenly wrought me of my thoughts. "I must admit to you."

I met his eyes, "Yes?"

He simmered for a moment, seemingly to be caught in his head.

"My shoulders are worn."

"What do you mean?"

He let out a sigh that came from deep within, "I did not send for you solely based on the attack."

I didn't reply immediately. The alarm of before rung in the back of my head again.

Father clasped his hands together, "My daughter. You have so much of your mother in you."

I frowned, "The last time you said that it was in the context of being a bad thing."

"I was blind."

I watched him in surprise as he continued, "I would still be if I keep the allusion that you are still a child. I've forced you through so many follies. Built so many walls around you in the guise that it would keep you from failing, but it was me that was failing you. The one time I allowed myself to slip and you've… you've flourished."

"Father, I-"

"It would be undeserving that I keep the full extent of your potential from coming to fruition," he clasped his hands harder. "I must ask, would you resent me for this burden?"

The realization of his words hit me and I felt my heart stop.

"No," I said almost too quickly. Nerves laced my words. "No, I would not."

Father moved to speak, but I cut him off in a rush of words.

"However, I would more hardily accept it if you allow me to bespeech you for guidance."

Despite the tension and the monumental circumstances of this moment, he laughed. It was deep and genuine and acutely reminded me of my uncle.

"Absolutely," he said once his laughter died down. "Yes, unquestionably."

Eventually, Father called the admirals back in. I stood at the back of my chair, gripping the backrest with unsure hands.

"Allow me," my father motioned towards me once he found his seat once more, "to reintroduce you to the acting monarch of Hyrule."

I watched idly while men who had previously resented my presence bow in the type of reverence held for a King, I felt like I hadn't woken at all and this was an elongated dream.

I pulled my robe tighter around me as a chill snaked up my bare legs. Pressure settled onto my chest and I was unsure which emotion was appropriate. Numbness didn't seem to be the one. A part of me knew that the acts of tonight wouldn't settle in until the next day, perhaps in the next week.

"I do believe," I uttered in a muted daze, "That we must come to a decision."

"Yes, Your High-" Whitehurst swallowed his words, "Your Majesty."

A beat of silence went on until he carried on, "We have to agree on a response."

"I understand that a number of you have been resilient against the idea of declaring war," I turned my eyes to the rest of the group. This felt odd. It took a considerable amount of effort to form words. "However, it would be a proper reply to this aggression. It would show the Zora – and the remaining races of Hyrule – that we bound to them. This was deliberate and their choice of attack adheres that these people do not want unity."

Unexpectedly, not even Whitehurst had an immediate response. Some of them were making notes.

"This… is not an order," I tilted my head. "If there is opposition, I would like it to make itself known."

Fierlin took a step to the front, "We've all come to a similar conclusion on the matter. We are in unanimous agreement."

Father's voice grew behind me, "Then a decision has been made. As my final act as King, I will declare war for my own daughter's reign to be of victory. Let us announce it at sunrise."

Another hour was spent determining terms of war that I wasn't familiar with. My fingers itched for my notebook and I tried to commit the unfamiliar topics to memory. Eventually, several men filed out of the door. Plenty of plans had been divided and they were swift to send messengers.

A shorter man I recognized as Byron stopped me as on his way out. He led most discussions on espionage and reports from the field. The man was also someone I would find myself sitting next to during many meetings. If Admirals Fierlin and Whitehurst were too busy in their quarrels, he was most helpful breaking their volume to bring attention to my comments.

"Despite these untimely events, I look forward to your leadership."

"Thank you, Admiral Byron," I said sincerely. Then, something occurred to me. "Not that I doubt your promptness, but has there been any news on the usurper's whereabouts?"

"I wish I could say. Nothing has come since I sent scouts through the city," he sighed. "You would think a Gerudo man would be an easy person to find."

"I see…"

"If I may, we do have rebel prisoners," Byron raised his eyebrows. "There is information we can pull."

My eyes widened and felt a chill crawl up my spine. In my mind's eye, I saw my blood draining out on a table. So much that it spilled over to drip on the floor. The dull punctures of a blade against wood ticking away.

I gripped my hands together.

"No," I met him sternly. "Hyrule doesn't commit war crimes, Admiral. Torture is out of the question."

His hopeful expression upturned, "My apologies."

I felt Impa's hand on my shoulder. I looked up at her to see a gentle smile and I realized my own tiredness. She motioned towards the door, but I felt that thread of responsibility pull my gaze back towards the remaining Admirals to find Father watching. He gave a small nod.

You have time, I told myself.

Slowly, as my slippers grazed under me, I counted the steps my governess had told me as a child. Straighten my back, square my shoulders, set my jaw, and keep my eyes from wandering. A phantom book balanced on the crown of my head and I approached the door.

Impa held it open and like when I entered, small chattering from outside succumbed to silence. There were more people now. They stared and whispered, but I remembered myself. The steps toward them made them part. Duchesses, servants, lords and ladies all mixed into one made space for me to pass. It was a gesture that imbedded itself into my heart. A gesture that I had seen nobody make since I was little and my mother took me out into the markets, but I was in my mother's place now – wasn't I?

There won't be a coronation any time soon. Festivities were shunned during wartime and until that is over there wouldn't be a ceremony. To me, it was appropriate, if that rule wasn't in place then I doubt I would have gone with the proceedings. For now, this would be one of my first appearances. Father still had to sign away the title, but with the way people averted their eyes it dawned on me that perhaps the formality didn't matter.

I also tried to forget that I was passed down the title of Queen in my night clothes.

With everything that has happened, the child in me wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

"What in your experience makes you suited for the responsibility of being Hyrule's trigger?" Whitehurst said. It made Fierlin lean over to glare daggers from the other side of me.

"Well, I suppose we'll have to go back to forty years ago when I was in my prime," the old man went on, staring off to an empty corner of the room as he did every time he launched into an anecdote.

My wrist was growing sore from my head. I didn't like how easy it was the drown out the candidate's voice, but at this point I could even see Urbosa growing weary. How long has it been? Two hours?

Hyrule's trigger, I mused to myself how it's been a while since I've heard that label for commanding general. I decided I liked it, it was poetic… in a murder-y war way. My pen jotted that down to tell Uncle if he was feeling better after this.

Lately, he had his moments where we would think he was recovering and the next day would be far worse. I learned that it was easier to finish my work if I didn't think about it too much.

"-and I said, 'Nope, don't think that's a fair idea sir. I sure don't.' and well, golly, he considered it! Thought it was a good idea, he did, to retreat. We surely woulda been in a good bit 'a trouble if we went in unprepared," he put up a withered finger before anyone could interject. "In actuality, it reminds me of another story."

"Oh, no I do think we're done here," Urbosa was quick to say. "What are your thoughts, Your Majesty?"

I offered a polite smile, "I have to agree with Lady Urbosa. Thank you for coming in Sir William."

"Certainly," the old knight nodded. "I have lots of thoughts, you see. I worry if this meeting has covered the full scope of my wisdom. For example, one time they thought that I could be the descendent of the lost hero and s-"

"Thank you, but if we need anything else we will be sure to send for you," Fierlin rigidly said.

The door shut not too long after and I found myself grasping for straws.

"He's uhm," I played with the weight of the pen and found there was only two words on my paper. "Well, he is rather… ah…"

"Old," Urbosa sighed, relaxing in her chair. "He's an old man. Older than Nathaniel. I realize there is value in experience, but that is not quite it."

I nodded slowly, "To be frank, and the quality of that experience. Sir William is wise in age, but his depth is lacking."

Whitehust begrudgingly agreed, "I suppose I misjudged his character."

"Gods willing, you misjudged the man's ability to walk."

"Before you two decide to prolong this," I asserted between the admirals, "I propose we discuss our prospects up until now and take a break before I melt into my seat."

There was a short silence that felt heated with the rustling of pages.

"With the six candidates we have spoken to," Fierlin seemed deflated and set the paper down. "There isn't one that I can defiantly say is worth pursuing."

Admiral Whitehurst didn't mention much.

"Surprisingly, I have the same sentiments."

"With that last pick? Yes, that is quite surprising."

"Gentlemen."

It was quite odd when they didn't stand with me, instead waiting a moment before following me out of the room.

Fierlin scratched his beard, "You know, John, there are a couple of my captains coming in."

"So what?"

"Nate likes one of them and mentioned to me something a couple weeks ago when he was awake."

I was about to turn and question about who the man he was talking about was, but a familiar voice distracted me.

"Has it sunk in yet?" Urbosa quietly asked outside, we were walking towards the courtyard.

I shook my head, "No. I can barely think about it. Whenever I do, I see Mother and then things don't feel quite as real."

A couple of maids stopped at the door leading to the courtyard, staring and whispering as they did. Urbosa hung behind me as I walk through.

"Like that," I said in a hush once she regained distance. "That is strange and if it happened to anyone else it'd be awkward."

"You are the Queen."

She spoke it plain as day and it made me turn.

My eyes searched the ground, "Well, I don't feel like one."

"It doesn't matter," she lazily observed the blooming flowers. "It doesn't matter because much of Hyrule still entertains divine right. When ordinary people see you, they will no longer see the girl you once were; they'll see a woman chosen by the goddesses. Some see it as proof that you are a piece of their immortality. Mariam was just as unaccustomed, if not more."

"Obviously that immortality wasn't in her favor," I mumbled. It was childish, and I regretted the words as I spoke.

Urbosa hummed, "No, but she put up with it. People loved her because she was a symbol for the future. She gave us you."

I stared at my hands, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.

"That's what you should do. Give them hope, even if you have no hope yourself."

I filled my lungs with air in hopes it would calm my frantic heart and nodded.

"I understand. Thank you. I… I truly am unsure where I would be without you."

"Good," her smile was genuine, but there was nothing ingenuine about the woman. "Though, I wonder now. Why don't you appoint one of those voe? Too big-headed?"

I blinked, "Oh, Admiral Fierlin and Admiral Whitehurt! It's an old standing law that admirals can't be appointed as General."

"Another Hylian oddity."

"It wasn't without reason," I laughed, "There was an attempted coup before it was put in place. I don't recall the specifics."

Under the pretense of visiting Uncle, I excused myself. I felt a little better about everything and found that my decision to ask Urbosa to attend was greatly rewarding. The ongoing search for Uncle's successor was not an easy process. Initially, I worried about choosing between candidates, but now I was concerned if there would be anyone of eligibility. Afterall I shouldn't be surprised that he wasn't easy an easy man to be replaced.

He would laugh at that.

Despite what Urbosa said, I took the lesser traveled halls. I felt better seeing less people. The last few days were filled with nothing but formality and a part of me wanted to see no one at all. The stones grew darker with age the farther I went down the corridors. Embrasures passed me by as I went and I saw the daylight.

I reached my fingers out and let the tips brush against the coarse stone.

Maybe if other people saw the future in me, I could learn to see it too. It all seemed so limited, as if I could only see as far as my hand could stretch. A part of me was curious and another was full of dread. My feet stopped in front of an embrasure that overlooked a portion of the market below. The air was warmer and I could see children playing in the middle of throngs of people.

I wonder if I should leave for the day? Change from the shimmery fabrics that Anju chose for me into something simpler and more comfortable. I'm sure she could use some reprieve as well. A good walk is what we both need.

There were some scraping footsteps that I blocked out to continue my observation of the children below. My dread for drastic changes didn't appear to be justified with the official declaration of war two days ago. They were still happy and playing tag while people went about their normal business. Though, I made sure to remember this if a draft were ever to come into proposition.

I winced.

Gods, there I go again. Thinking about issues that should be set aside.

"I should have known better than to not expect you around places like this," a warm voice said. I startled with a small gasp. Despite myself, I held onto the curse that was halfway out of my lips.

Unmistakable blue eyes held me in place, altogether making me paralyzed and unsure. My own widened and suddenly I wanted to be anywhere else but here. I wanted to say so much for so long, but now it was all thrown out the window – well, the embrasure.

Of course I would just stumble upon Link Forester like this.

"You're back," I managed to spit out with a certain amount of disbelief.

"Just for a couple days," he looked away for a moment and back, "and then I have to go."

"I see."

Something bubbled in my chest and I talked, "When did you get here?"

There was a long pause. His hair got longer in the back. It was tied, but I didn't care to admit that it looked good. That Link looked good. It made that something grow.

"Yesterday."

"Yesterday," I found his eyes again with a furrowed brow, barely cognitive of my tone. The something reached my throat, filling me almost completely. I repeated it again in a question and he studied our feet.

I realized what I was feeling was a red-hot anger. One that I convinced myself I was feeling every time my mind wondered to him. With that, I understood what Fierlin was referring to. Link was in his uniform with metals lining the left side of his collar.

"For the successor interview. I…" I forced a smile on, "I didn't know."

"Really?"

"No. I-I mean yes, really," I shook my head, "I had no clue, I let the admirals choose who they thought were best."

Link didn't say anything. I hated it. Nearly four months and I feel like a fool.

"Well! I'm glad you had a safe journey," I pushed passed him, hating that I had to touch him as I did. "I apologize that I can't stay, but I have to visit my uncle."

I was several steps down the hall when he piped up, "He's asleep."

It made me pause and turn, "What?"

"I just tried to see him," Link said. "He's asleep."

And as we stood there I couldn't help but remember his lips on mine, pushing my back against a wall. His warm breath on my cheek as his lips drifted down my neck. All the while, I remembered staring at a little for countless nights after Impa left and spending hundreds if not thousands of tears reading over words. For the life of me couldn't figure out which was worse.

All he could fucking do was stare at me.

"Why did you leave?" I exclaimed with a bite in my words.

He acted like he was expecting it, but his voice was half mine. "I thought you would know by now. There were reports that Hylian villages were being raided and the General sent me with a group of men."

"And that," I shrugged, holding out my hands as if the answer would fall from the ceiling. My leather book, however, did fall from my grasp and to a clattering on the floor. "And that's it?"

I bent to pick it up, but he was already there. I took it from him, he kept one hand on it.

His eyes were harder, "No, that's not all. People died."

"You know that's not what I meant. You know that!"

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened them I saw him frown.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I'm not that deluded."

"You are not deluded."

Now I frowned, "Don't say that because of what I am."

His expression worsened, "What do you want me to say? That you are?"

That bubbling anger was back as the frown turned into a grimace.

"No," I started, blinking the emotion from my eyes. "I want you to explain why I went months without hearing from you. I want you to stop ignoring that you know what I'm thinking because I know you very well do. I just want to understand, Link!"

I pulled the book away from him and held to against me like a shield. Link looked from it and then to me.

"And what?" he suddenly said. "And then what?"

My confusion slacked my previous outburst. "Wha... what?"

Link turned to look behind him and when he turned back he seemed smaller. The bravado of before lessened to a tired glaze. For a moment, he studied me and I thought maybe he would pull me in — but he didn't and promptly directed his gaze to the wall.

"All the conflict ends, miraculously, and I get to come back to the castle," he continued despite the puzzlement in my stare, "You get the coronation you deserve and properly start your reign. Time will go on."

"Link-" I said with the intention of interrupting, but he calmly stopped me.

"Time will go on, Zelda," Link gestured behind him. "If I — for some gods-forsaken reason — become what they're vying for, I will never return as your attendant. We will never be as close. Eventually, you'll want you to move on."

Anger sparked in me, "It isn't that simple. You can't reduce me to something like that."

Then, he met me with eyes that echoed injury and needs he would never voice.

"Is that so? Because if you don't, someone will force your hand in time. They're already calling you Queen and soon you will have the world at your fingertips. You'll need someone who can match that," he spoke quickly with speech more formal than I had ever cared for.

My hands itched to do something and it teetered precariously between wrapping them around myself to cry and gripping his shoulders to shake some sense into him. Neither seemed to fit the pulling in my chest and the unwelcome discomfort I felt. Was this his way of gently letting me down?

"So, that's it then?" I said, swallowing thickly. "That's what you want? To not... for me to not speak to you like before. For me to convince myself that this was all a childish delusion and for us to pretend that nothing happened? Because-" my shoulders drew up in a mechanical shrug, "Because for months I felt this is what you wanted."

"No," Link suddenly said with fervor. "Gods, no. I've written," disbelief was in his face, as if I was the one wanting nothing to do with him. He had a way about him where even when he was grasping for words, his eyes told you he had thought about this conversation far in advanced.

"I've written letters upon letters to you. Letters to tell you that I wanted you to wait and how I would do the same. Letters to plead for your smile to stop haunting my dreams. Dozens of letters I have had to fight myself over," he stopped at seeing the anguish I tried to hide, only to be betrayed by my quivering lip.

I swiftly brought my wrist up to swipe the wetness of my nose and said matter-of-factly, "You're lying."

Link exhaled and seemed as if he was going to leave until he spoke, "I don't blame you for believing that. The proof is ashes in a desert because I can't trust myself."

"You're lying to me."

"Ask Fierlin," his voice was soft, even when I wanted a rise out of him. "Ask him for my file from last month and see the reprimands for using more writing supplies than we were given. I know I'm hurting you, but I would never lie about this. Believe me, I want to be-"

Then, he choked on his words and that energy left as fast as it came as he relented to saying, "It doesn't matter what I want."

I harshly blinked the burning from my eyes. "I care about you. You're asking me to stop."

There was a moment where neither of us spoke and all I could do was meet his eyes. In them, I wanted to see stoicism and coldness. Something I could etch into my memory because it was easier to hate than love. And even in doing this, he disappointed me. I didn't see that at all.

Barely noticeably, he tilted his head down to look at the floor; just enough to affirm me.

My stomach dropped, but I had my own responsibilities to attend to. If I let myself become overwhelmed, everything I had worked for would fall through the cracks. I pressed my lips together into a fine line and forced myself to nod.

"Okay," my voice was barely there. "Excuse me."

I turned on my heel, heading towards Uncle's quarters and knew I'd have to take a hard left and find another way back to the interviewing room.

While I walked towards where the hallway opened up, I remembered what Impa had told me about controlling emotions. Focus onto something simple and describe it. There was a painting on the far wall of Hyrule Field. The grass was a variety of green shades. The frame was gold and perfectly centered. The sun was yellow and the sky was a ridiculous blue that I forced myself to hate. Anger was less damaging to gossip about if anyone saw me.

I turned the corner, nearly running into Urbosa who leaned against the wall. She didn't say anything with a look of concern, but she didn't have to. She heard most, if not all of our conversation and I almost regressed into a puddle of tears. Instead, I pulled myself together with a thin string of determination and gave her a thin-lipped smile that hurt more than it was worth.

"You're right on time. I was just about to head back," I surprised myself with the solidness of my words.

She verged on asking a question and simply nodded. We walked back in the direction of the courtyard again – using the main halls this time.

We burned through two more people, which took an hour each.

Admittedly, I didn't have many questions to ask nor did I try to muster the energy. It had surprised me, however, when they were both sons of dukes that I loosely knew from court. Each had joined the army seeking some fantasized glory of knighthood. Whitehurst had thought of them as adding a political leverage to the position.

I remember him distinctly saying, "If you can sway the people, you can sway a war."

As the last one left, I turned to the man.

"Please tell me that's the last of them. I'm sure you mean well, but they don't preform well under pressure," I breathed out rather tiredly.

Fierlin had rose from his seat for the first time in two hours and walked towards the door.

The other admiral dropped his pen, "I tried my best, Your Majesty."

"Don't bully the poor man, Your Grace," Urbosa jested. "He's been doing some heavy lifting with the picks."

Though he didn't voice it, Whitehurst seemed to appreciate the gesture.

His counterpart laughed on the other side of the door just as it swung open.

"-it's fantastic to see you, my boy," he was grinning wryly. Behind him, Link walked in with his own grin. It dropped when he saw me. I looked away quickly.

"Let us get introductions out of the way," Fierlin nearly skipped to his chair and I could see Whitehurst wanting to bury his head in the sand.

Link cleared his throat. I had to look up and at least attempt to appear indifferent. As was unfortunately expected, he addressed me first with a low bow, "Your Royal Majesty."

"You may rise," I said, maybe too quickly. Blue eyes met mine and I felt a deep flush take over.

I don't care. I truly do not care about him and I will treat this interview like any other.

It felt like a bold-faced lie.

"I am Link Forester. First captain under the command of Admiral Traeriel Fierlin."

"So," Fierlin leaned on his elbows, "You have previously been the former Princess's, now Queen, knight attendant during peacetime. Is that right, Sir?"

His voice was steady, "That is correct."

"Can the committee assume that you can handle yourself in politics?"

"I would beg to say that even in wartime, most things are politics up until the combat itself," Link went on as I caught Urbosa's gaze in my attempt to look anywhere but at him. I decided to stare at my notebook instead, but even that was tainted by his touch earlier.

"However, I will say I did learn much while in service of Her Majesty."

It was a struggle to maintain a professional composure when I was conscious of each time he looked at me or how long I was avoiding him. I couldn't grasp where my eyes should be or how my hands should be folded. My indecisions made the next hour excruciating.

Admiral Fierlin seemed to ask pointed questions about Whitehurst's former worries. Link had political and combat experience along with being a current leader.

Looking through his papers, Fierlin raised a brow, "That is it for my questions. Are we ready to adjourn?"

I could tell that it was strange that I wasn't more engaged, so I could only think of one question. With a dainty hand, I set down my pen.

"Sir Link," I looked up, "If you were appointed General at this moment, what would your first actions be?"

He watched me carefully and for a second, I thought we were alone together.

"My first action," Link didn't wither under my gaze, but he didn't strengthen his stance either. "Would be addressing the concerns of my cabinet and my Queen."

I could feel Urbosa's eyes on me, but I ignored them.

"My second would be establishing a base near the conflict that halves the amount of time to deliver orders. That way we can erect a better, more fortified transport for supplies and reinforcements. It could deter their use of gorilla warfare tactics behind lines. My third would be corresponding with the Gerudo's own army and creating a more seamless alliance."

I hoped to look satisfied and went through my blank page of notes, "That's all. Thank you."

Fierlin dismissed him shortly after and turned, "I believe he's very favorable."

"He is simply up to par," Whitehurst merely said, making the other upset.

"There's a reason Nathaniel hasn't promoted him," he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. "That's all I will say about it."

It didn't last long though as the man sat up once more, "And the Sword spoke to him. Now, I'm done."

"A silly legend. I could have pulled the thing."

As the admirals bickered, I stood to stretch out my legs. Urbosa stood with me.

"And your thoughts?"

I looked towards the closed door, "I would be a fool to let my feelings get in the way."

"Is that your… approval?"

I gently smiled, "We still have two more interviews to go."

Listlessly, I saw Fierlin's victory and Whitehurst's silent defeat. I thought about Urbosa's words from the courtyard. The country would be plunged into war and they need a strong leader for their military.

If Link could give that hope to them, I would not dare deny them.

A/N: I'm sorry :(